The Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on child marriage and placed a new ordinance before the Provincial Assembly.
Under the proposed law, marriage of any person under the age of eighteen will constitute a criminal offence. A Nikah registrar who registers an underage marriage will face one year’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000.
The Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance will be presented during the sitting of the Punjab Assembly. It states that a person above eighteen who contracts marriage with an underage girl will be liable to a minimum of two years’ imprisonment. Any adult involved in arranging an underage marriage will face a fine of up to Rs500,000.
Cohabitation or marital relations with a minor after marriage have been declared child abuse, punishable with five to seven years’ imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs1 million. Taking a minor outside Punjab for the purpose of marriage will be treated as child trafficking, carrying five to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
Parents or guardians who arrange a child marriage will face imprisonment of two to three years.
All cases relating to child marriage will be tried in Sessions Courts. The court will have the authority to issue immediate restraining orders to prevent an underage marriage. All offences under the ordinance will be non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Courts will be bound to conclude trials within ninety days. The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 has been repealed.
